Listen to Emma Grede’s “You’re Allowed to Want to Be Rich” podcast episode if you need some inspiration.

This is the first piece in my MONEY series, a once-a-month dive into the financial stuff that hits differently when you're self-employed. First up, the importance of retirement savings, and just as much, the how: a step-by-step breakdown with the exact links I wish someone had handed me.

Down the line: variable income budgeting, tax season, how to actually think about write-offs, and more.

I know the feeling: you work really hard for your money (which we do as Pilates instructors), the last place you want to put it is somewhere you know nothing about…trust me, I get it. I know there are bills to pay and ends to meet and in an unpredictable industry (like being a fitness instructor) you deal with much more uncertainty and irregularity than a salary-based job. When your income is irregular, it makes consistent saving for your future hard to begin with, BUT not impossible. Don’t let the uncertainty be the thing that shies you away from putting $ away for your future; your unsureness is costing you much more than you think.

What you’re about to read is not personal finance advice (I’m no financial advisor) but rather concrete steps to set yourself up for your future because god do they make it incredibly difficult and confusing when you’re not working in corporate America, but I’m hoping to change that for you <3

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• Child’s pose stretch/warmup facing the foot bar

• Seated hands in straps series, facing the foot bar (advanced position: full kneeling)

  • Focuses on the “push” mechanics (heavy on the chest). Note: there is one “pull” pattern facing the foot bar (heavy bicep curls)

• Seated hands in straps series, facing the back of the reformer (I prefer to stay seated instead of kneeling so you can really focus on activating upper back)

  • Focuses on the “pull” mechanics (heavy on the back)

• Long box prone series

  • Focuses on full-body press, plus scapula stability

• Long box prone position: swan + stretch

Equipment: Reformer + box

Length: ~30 min

Focus: A class that trains pushing and pulling patterns under real resistance, while teaching you to stabilize through secondary movers that support them. The pushing patterns primarily hit: chest, anterior deltoid, tricep (pressing away from center); pulling patterns primarily hit: upper back, posterior deltoid, biceps (drawing toward center).

*If I’m programming for a full-body class, I usually pick based off a theme (e.g. push or pull) OR a specific, targeted group of muscles (read here exactly how I class plan).

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Here’s the thing: class planning doesn’t have to be that hard lol. My secret? Following a system/structure/outline (and no I’m not a classical teacher which I’m sure is obvious, so no I don’t follow the classical order). But our good friend Joseph was right about having structure; a structure takes out the guess work and the feeling of having to start at zero every single time.

Structure doesn’t equal boring; structure equals consistency, quality, and precision. And as Pilates instructors, we should be preaching the difference.

Let’s dig in.

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Quick background: what is Breathe Education

Breathe Education, founded by Raphael Bender, is/was a comprehensive Pilates platform which primarily supported online certifications (the company had certified over 7,000 instructors). It was very popular in Australia, where it came from, but has since operated globally (US, Canada, UK, Europe). The company also had a branch of the business that consulted with Pilates studios, essentially helping them with growth and marketing (more on this later).

I personally haven’t had any interactions/experience with this company, but based off reviews and what I’ve read, majority mark it as a well-received program with good instructors/resources, while others, of course, had negative things to say about the online-only format and the use of “scammy-like” marketing tactics.

And now??

… Breathe Education no longer exists.

July 15: major change announcement dropped

On July 15, 2026, Bender posted a video on Instagram (I’m honestly surprised it’s still up) announcing that they are basically discontinuing the education side of the business and are going all in on the Pilates studio consulting business. The video (and caption) said that any current students would be able to finish out their certification with the same 12 months access that they were promised. And Bender also announced, that if you’re still wanting to become a Pilates instructor, you still have the opportunity with Breathe, with August 31st being the final enrollment period (added the screenshot from the post for reference).

Honestly, at first glance there is nothing wildly wrong with this announcement; businesses are allowed to pivot and evolve!!

But then a few days ago everything changed…

On August 20, 2026 just about five weeks after the above video, Breathe Education announced it was liquidating (note: I haven’t officially seen the post/announcement myself but this is the date that Pilates Instructor Academy referenced).

After a few days, someone from the inside spoke out: Heath Lander, a Breathe Education lead trainer posted this. Basically stating his personal response and that the company entering liquidation came at a genuine shock; he along with his colleagues believed that the education branch would be a managed wind down over the next year.

But here’s where I get the major ick: five weeks ago, the message (from the founder) was that current students could finish their training and even new students could enroll through August 31st. This week, the message is that people mid-certification are suddenly without a path forward and not even a company to reach out to. Money? Gone. Time? Can’t get that back.

A responsible, solvent company doesn't usually go from 'come enroll with us' to full liquidation in five weeks. Just saying…

Now people are pissed…

I saw one girl on TikTok saying she completed her mat and reformer Pilates course in April, with Breathe, but the company was withholding her teaching certificate until she made her final payment (which was set for December of this year). Now that the company (Breathe Education) is in liquidation, there is nothing she can access and no one to reach out to…UGH.

The lions are chomping at the bit (the basic laws of supply and demand are in full force here lol).

Most education platforms are all over social media right now offering students a million ways to complete their course(s) and cert. I know these are all met with good intentions and the industry is really stepping up to help (which I love) but it’s like a damn blood bath out there trying to gobble up these students who are in a vulnerable state. I sure as hell wouldn’t know what to do…

So, if you’re mid-certification with Breathe Education, my first piece of advice is to take a beat. Below, I consolidated as many references as I could for you:

Now is not the time to make rash decisions, I know this is hard and there is this sense of urgency (I would be the same) but really try your best to slow down and do a bit of research before jumping on board with another company.

Heath Lander recently made another post which included his suggestion on things to consider before signing up for a new program (watch here):

1. Ask what kind of teaching practice and feedback you’ll receive

2. What version of the Breathe course a provider believes it’s replacing? Where are the equivalents from course to course and where are the gaps?

3. Compare the educational paradigm (shared terminology, does not mean shared system)

Soul Pilates Education (host of the #1 World’s Pilates podcast: Beyond the Reformer): put together a questionnaire for any Breathe Education students to fill out so they can see what ways they can support you.

Naomi Di Fabio suggested: contact your bank (especially if you paid by card) and register as a creditor with the liquidator. She adds good screenshots and references in her video here.

Kira-Leigh Rule (founder of Body Form Education) also did a 2-part post on her three things that she suggested you look for before signing up with someone new (post 1 ; post 2):

1. Who are they accredited by? For international recognition, look for PMA or ITTAP

2. What will they recognize from your Breathe Education training? Red flag if anyone is trying to hand you a certification without any video or proof of you as an instructor

3. What type of training are they providing and what are YOU interested in teaching?

If you have any resources, feel free to leave them in the comments!

All this to say…ask the damn question(s) and don’t settle.

Lastly, I’ll close with this: you have to realize that we unfortunately are all playing within an unregulated industry whether we like it or not. There’s no accrediting body checking a company’s financials before they sell you a certification, no requirement that a business disclose trouble before you hand over your money and your time. Certainly social media and marketing can be deceiving, a polished feed and a confident sales page tell you nothing about what’s actually happening behind closed doors.

That’s not meant to make you paranoid about every program out there. It’s meant to remind you that due diligence is on you right now, because it isn’t on anyone else (this goes for continuing education courses and certs). And to everyone currently stuck mid-certification with nowhere to go: this isn’t your fault, and I hope you land somewhere better than where this left you.

Reach out if you need support.

xo

Riley

• Lunge stretch (Eve’s lunge) + spinal movement in ALL directions

• Kneeling front split

• Lunge series facing back of reformer (focus on standing leg glute and hamstring)

• Long stretch (transition exercise)

• Heel-elevated squat series (featuring planks)

• Final “cardio (ish)” squat + curtsy lunge finisher

• Long spine series (finish the hamstrings)

• Feet in straps stretch

Equipment: Reformer + box

Length: ~38 min

Focus: Learning how to produce force through the lower body on the way “out” and finding control on the way back in. Grounding is a push into the reformer and/or floor while owning the return of the carriage. I say this often but half of the work is in the controlled resistance of your reformer, i.e. not letting the springs just pull you in. This class puts your stability to work, and just because we aren’t directly working the core doesn’t mean it’s not a major player in controlled, grounded movement.

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There is this innate awkwardness that goes along with silence whether it’s a social conversation, public speaking, or instructing a fitness class, and I think it’s because silence provides space for fear to creep in; fear of judgement and a sense of broken rhythm (which in a fitness class can feel like death). But that’s all made up bullshit you put in your head and it doesn’t need to reflect reality. From a fitness instructor perspective, silence can feel like a gap you’re supposed to fill with words you think are necessary, when in reality the silence is space for people to listen to their bodies and breath.

Why silence is doing more than you think:

Every second you’re talking is a second your client isn’t really checking in with their own body. They are trying to listen to you, do the movement, and make adjustments, but by the time they do all of that, you may have already moved on. Some of the best corrections aren’t corrections at all, they’re just you shutting up long enough for the client to feel the movement themselves because you can’t teach someone to self-correct if you never give them room to try. The amount of times I walk the aisle in silence and just when I’m about correct someone, they do it themselves. I would like to think that sometimes it’s because I created a space for them to listen to their body and find the correction on their own - that’s *chef’s kiss.

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The coolest part about this programming batch is it contains zero props (reformer & box only across the next 4 weeks); I’ll prove to you that athletic training isn't about stacking gear, it's about how you load and sequence one tool + your body.

Brace:

It's not just "abs,” rather we’re training anti-movement first: anti-rotation, anti-extension, anti-lateral flexion and then learning to “brace” your powerhouse under different dynamic loads and planes of movement. The distinction matters because it’s about resisting and then controlling movement, not creating it through crunches or sit-up patterns.

What’s inside:

• 360 breath work

• Traditional footwork

• Teaser series (latest obsession!!)

• Knee stretch series (flat + round back)

• “Teaser” series side facing w/strap in hand

• Side plank (it’s giving “Snake” lateral flexion)

• Plank facing back w/ added extension

• Classical ab series of 5 finisher w/ hands in straps

• Cat/cow cool down

Equipment: Reformer

Length: ~35 min

Focus: working your core first in anti-movement (brace) and then layering on the rotation, extension, flexion, or lateral flexion of the trunk of the body to train it differently. Can you move from your center/core/powerhouse in all ranges of movement?

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I want to start by saying being a forever student, having curiosity, and open-mindedness are always my north star, but spending loads of time and money on workshops/continuing education courses isn’t my priority. I’m the first to admit that I don’t know it all; you all are watching me learn and grow in real time, but right now, I’m focused on real-life experiences. That paired with my ability to recalibrate learnings after each class (taking notes from real people, real bodies, and real classes) and figuring out where my actual learning gaps lie (because sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know) is my main focus.

Ok, let’s all take a deep breath (lol). I don’t want you to get it twisted, your certification IS IMPORTANT and workshops/continuing education can still be very helpful; I’m not here to negate that, but where I think some get it wrong is they get stuck in the education loop…

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Reminder: “I didn’t make this subscription to be another class programming copy and paste. I made it to help you think, get creative, and curious. There will be varying degrees of class length, concepts, and exercise ideas for you to ultimately pull from and use how you like.” Basically, take what you like and leave what you don’t.

What’s inside:

• Standing rotation warmup using the reformer

  • How I use it: as a stretch before footwork OR integrate it into a longer standing warmup in replacement of footwork

• Side bending series w/ weight

• “Side lying” glutes (targeting glute med) w/ weight on short box

  • Note: the spring becomes significantly heavier at this angle

• Unilateral arms with spring + weight

  • Why: to play with change in load / resistance

• Planking w/ tempo

  • Focus: anti-rotation especially in 3-legged plank

• Weighted hip extension (referenced as “bridging” in the video)

Equipment: Reformer + box + hand weights (3-10 lbs)

Length: ~30 min

Focus: We will focus on how to implement quality spinal rotation across different exercises. Whether you’re doing upper body, lower body, abs, etc., this class will show you that spinal rotation has the ability to be placed throughout a workout because the spine is meant to MOVE. Plus full integration of other week’s principles into one class.

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What you’re about to read are not specific must dos to teach an athletic style workout, but they are options that can be intertwined within what you’re already teaching. I created “Intro to Athletic Reformer Pilates” as a 4-part class sequence that touches on some of the main principles I use to drive an athletic class, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

I want to highlight again that I didn’t make this subscription to be another class programming copy and paste. I made it to help you think, get creative, and curious. There will be varying degrees of class length, concepts, and exercise ideas for you to ultimately pull from and use how you like (for your own practice or teaching).

Final note before we dive in: most people think “athletic” Pilates means bigger, faster, stronger. They think it’s always heavier spring load, or that you have to use weights, or it’s never any moves from the actual repertoire. And I’m here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, you may still use some of what I just mentioned but they aren’t a requirement. Athletic Pilates lives in “the blend” between traditional Pilates aspects and newer, functional, practical ways to move with the reformer/tower/mat/etc. It’s adding concepts and ways of movement that can translate to sport or life.

My motto: “Pilates that trains you like an athlete” because athletes always strive for mastery. My clients will joke with me all the time “what are you/we training for,” and my answer is always to be the best version of you and me because that’s all we can ask of ourselves!!

The following is only a small snapshot; my paid subscription gets you access to all videos and live cued programmed classes:

Class 1: Tempo & Tension ~35 min (posted)

A concept used quite frequently in strength training work. Adding change in tempo & tension doesn’t mean we are trying to make Pilates something it’s not, but rather integrating complementary principles within the built repertoire. Mixing strength training with Pilates is not the goal here, it’s about borrowing a principle with a greater intention: a slow eccentric, a controlled hold, or a deliberate speed change.

Class 2: Posterior Chain & Hips ~40 min (posted)

Covers mostly lower body (hamstrings & glutes) with a little bit of back work. Holy moly is this an area of the body that is significantly undertrained. Learning from experience, a major contributor to me tearing (both) my ACLs was due to weak hamstrings and glutes. The backside of your body should not be forgotten but rather it take up its own real estate in your classes. The posterior chain should never be an after thought both from a load perspective but also a mobility perspective, which is exactly why I dedicated a class to this.

Class 3: Unilateral Control ~40 min (posted)

Elite sport and athletics live in controlling and being agile in a single side of the body. However, you don’t have to be an athlete to understand this because LIFE is not linear. We walk, we run, we hold babies on one side, and we carry groceries in one hand; the list goes on… the goal: finding alignment even while the load or position is trying to take you out of it.

Class 4: Rotation and Integration ~30 min (drops Monday 8/10)

We will focus on how to implement quality spinal rotation across different exercises. Whether you’re doing upper body, lower body, abs, etc., this class will show you that spinal rotation has the ability to be placed throughout a workout because the spine is meant to MOVE. We don’t add twists for variety, it’s about teaching and training the spine to rotate with control, under different circumstances and load patterns (just like an athlete, just like life); so when it happens under fatigue or at speed, the body knows how to manage it.

This is also your integration class of all other principles that drive athletic style movement packaged into one.

Looking forward:

The next theme is another 4-week reformer cycle which I’m calling Athletic Output: classes organized by function of the body (brace, ground, press, and flow). Something that’s also unique in this next 4-week cycle is that you won’t see any props (minus the box, but I don’t consider this a prop, it’s a part of the reformer). Heavy weights, bands, etc. do not dictate “athletic” exercises and I’ll prove it to you. Athletic Output is your next layer to teaching athletic driven Pilates.

Let’s lock it the fuck in.

See you on the mat xo,

Riley

While the industry continues to be led by the two, there is sometimes this notion between consumers like it’s one or the other. “I only do mat or I only do reformer.” Usually it’s the latter, people only want to workout on a actual piece of equipment but I don’t (and won’t) buy it when people tell me they don’t like mat. I get it, the reformer feels fancier and it feels like you’re getting a better “bang for your buck,” but mat has the ability to be significantly harder. And what people often forget is the fact that the reformer is actually more supportive, while the mat requires pure body control.

But people ask me all the time, which one is truly better?? …

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• Unique footwork on long box

• Reformer bird dog series

• Side lying arms

• Long box spinal extension (single arm)

• Side lying plank / glute series

• Side plank / star variation

• Single leg foot in strap cool down

Equipment: Reformer + box + resistance band

Length: ~40 min

Focus: Quality, controlled unilateral movements that challenge balance and core stability. If you think about it, a lot of sport and athletics lives in single sided body control and agility. But this is not just for athletes, being balanced is a baseline requirement for moving well :)

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2026 is THAT year; the year I’m going to look back on one day as a very pivotal, life changing time. So far this year: I left my corporate job, pursued Pilates full-time (take a private with me!! virtual or in-person), and internally have come to a really peaceful place with myself about living in California (even though I’m constantly missing home and family). And what’s left of this year are major puzzle pieces: I’m getting married in September (eeeeeeek!!!), I turn 30 in November (wtf), and I’m continuing to find my online presence and revenue stream (aka no shame in my money-making game, I’m actively figuring out how I can support myself while not physically having to teach all the time).

So, I’m about to give you the low down (411) of it all:

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• Footwork with hip mobility

• Bridging (non-loaded + loaded)

• 3 sets of back/shoulder work

• Prone leg lifts

• Standing hamstring

• Strap behind the knee abs + hip strengthening

Equipment: Reformer + hand weights (3-10 lbs)

Length: ~40 min

Focus: Loading the posterior chain across multiple reformer angles. It’s often an underloaded pattern, but one that drives athletic movement and translates to real-world strength.

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Everyone within the Pilates industry discusses burnout, but if I’m being completely honest, that’s not how I would describe what I’m feeling; it’s more of a rut. Creatively, I feel drained and the part that’s been suffering the most is my class plans. Nothing feels fresh and I’ve barely had any time these past few weeks to focus on my own practice. But a rut does feel potentially like the beginning of burnout, which is why we’re pivoting (keep reading).

How did I get here? I think this is stemming from a few things: increase in privates (which again, love that for me but my class plans are more variable in a private setting). Pilates content creation across multiple social media outlets, and filming for two different educational platforms back-to-back.

So, in an effort to pick myself back up, here are the 5 things I’m actively doing to get out of my own damn way.

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• Heavy footwork with multiple sets

• Supine abs with isometric holds

• Tempo push-ups + long stretch series

• Strong lower body series with hand weights

• Stretch + close (feet in straps)

Equipment: Reformer + hand weights (3-10 lbs)

Length: ~35 min

Focus: Tempo & Tension is where we introduce the athletic-style lens through controlled tempo, isometric holds, and time under tension. You’ll notice familiar exercises re-loaded with intent and layers.

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This subscription was not built to be another “instructor educational platform.” It’s a place where you come to:

1. spark your own instructor creativity (by watching and doing the weekly programmed classes),

2. learn about my athletic style (+ways of teaching),

3. kindly interact with other instructors (via subscriber’s chat),

4. educate yourself on finances as we navigate a non-corporate career, and

5. read all the silly things going on in my brain.

So, hi. Welcome. The below will explain where I am and where we’re going.

What the Pilates Sport Club is:

I teach athletic style Pilates as an ode to my days as a gymnast and my love for the movement of Pilates. My athletic style trains you like an athlete; there’s a bit of sweat, changes in tempo, purposeful spring load execution, layers + repetition, and mastery. When I mix this style of teaching with the principles and traditional Pilates aspects, I feel most like myself. And that is worth sharing.

I built The Pilates Sport Club as both a place (where I teach privates) and a digital world. It really came at a time when I started to feel like the industry became a sea of sameness (aka Beige Pilates). So, I opened a private studio (with, yes, green turf floors) and I started writing here.

The free side:

This will continue as is; the essays will keep going and include my thinking on the industry, teaching, and whatever else. You’ll have access to ~2-3 articles/month.

Nothing changes if you never subscribe to the paid tier. Don’t worry, we can still be friends.

The paid side:

If you do pay to subscribe, here’s what you’re actually paying for (because we love transparency):

1. A weekly filmed class w/ live cues by me: these will be batched into “programming” style content; meaning, I’m not dropping random classes. You’ll be able to follow alongside a build/theme/structure/etc.

   1. E.g. the first 4 weeks and 4 classes are centered around “Intro to athletic style reformer Pilates.” In these first 4 classes you’ll start to experience the athletic method I stand by. A blueprint to my teaching style if you will.

   2. These will be a mix of reformer, tower, and mat.

   3. First class drops Monday 7/20

2. Studio Notes: a weekly written post. The insider version of what I’m building, filming, and figuring out. Client stories, hot takes, BTS, and frankly things I won’t put on Instagram.

3. The MONEY Section. This might be the one I’m most excited about. I fucking love money and finances. I promise this isn’t another “influencer” trying to provide financial advice; this is going to be real tactical things that I did and am doing as an ex-corporate finance gal, turned self-employed Pilates instructor. I’m thinking topics of the like: “how to set up a self-employed 401K,” “how I budget on variable income,” “wtf to do come tax time,” or “things you didn’t know you can write off.” Expect to see these ~once a month, unless you guys tell me otherwise!

4. The Chat: I want this to be a kind, open dialog among subscribers. A place where we can all teach each other to become better instructors and humans. There are no stupid questions.

5. The Mat Vault: a 12-session program designed to progressively build you into athletic style mat Pilates. It has structure and purpose and it’s a great starting point. If you’re a serious mover, you can do these; if you’re an instructor, you can do or teach these. Either way, it’s all available on day 1 of the subscription.

$15/month or $150/year. Cancel whenever. No hard feelings, ever.

The founders club perk:

The first 10 annual subscribers get a monthly 30-min session with me for the first year. Zoom, phone, whatever. Ask me anything, walk through a class you’re programming, or tell me what you’re stuck on.

Ten people only. When those spots fill, the founder deal is closed.

Why the hell am I doing this:

It’s funny, I always used to HATE writing in school. Like despise. I always struggled with it and never was really any good at it either (I was more of a math girlie), but somewhere along the way my Substack has become one of the most enjoyable parts of my instructor journey.

I wanted to build something beyond providing you with class plans/instructor tips/a Pilates library of workouts to teach; there are so many other apps and programs out there that do that already (and do it well might I add). Yes, I built this to be educational from a Pilates perspective but also a life perspective. Beyond that I want it to be enjoyable, useful content that takes you out of your doom scroll. Because the very small corner of the internet that is the Pilates industry can be absolutely terrifying.

Any and all questions, DM me here or on Instagram, I promise to get back to you.

See you inside.

xo,

Riley

1. How do I plan a class in the first place?

2. How do I memorize a class plan?

3. What do I do when someone in the room isn’t listening?

Everyone lacks confidence around these few topics when they're starting out, so let's address them here.

How do you approach class planning? In the beginning, this can really feel like trial and error. When you first start teaching, you don’t really have your voice yet. You might not even know what style of Pilates you lean towards either (classical, contemporary, athletic, strength-based, etc.). Because of that, keep your class plans simple! Don’t go for the complex moves you have saved on Instagram because that’s what you think people want. Master teaching the repertoire, “the basics”, the things you already know first. This will help build your confidence quicker and then you can start dabbling in the other fun moves.

Once you’re in the groove of writing down, practicing, and doing your class plan (I go through this more in the next question) try to implement a structure. For example, my high-level structure I write all my class plans around: warmup —> ab work —> upper body —> lower body —> plank —> cool down —> breath. There is A LOT more to this structure but memorizing the flow of that is what keeps me sane. It helps me remember what’s next while I’m teaching and allows me to successfully integrate a full body class without the chaos of bouncing between random exercises. Now, this is not perfect every time, things overlap, and I even will change the order based on class flow sometimes, but I broadly follow this structure no matter the type of class I’m teaching.

Note: if the studio you teach at has a structure or method, you obviously want to follow that, but it doesn’t mean you can’t insert your creativity or own structure within certain guidelines. Find what works for you and stick with that.

Two situations every new instructor lives in fear of: you planned too little and you’re staring at the clock with 10 minutes left, or you planned too much and you’re running out of time.

For the first, keep a few go-to back-pocket exercises: single-leg foot in strap series, an ab burner, or a lunge stretch. You want these to be simple to set up and easy to layer. You pull one out, string it into what you’ve been doing, and no one knows you were off-plan.

For the second, wrap up the series you’re on and always leave a few minutes for a cool down. No one will notice you didn’t get to the last three things on your list. They won’t even know they existed.

How do you memorize your flow/class plan? I even hate the first part of my answer for this, but… practice, practice, practice; especially when you’re a new instructor. That also includes saying it out loud and going through the motions yourself (i.e., personally performing the exercises yourself so you know where you’re supposed to be feeling it). I find that writing everything down helps with better memorization as well. If you’re really struggling to memorize and the class plans live on your phone’s notes app, put pen to paper instead. Vintage I know…

Lastly don’t be afraid to teach the same class, multiple times - read Why I Don’t Constantly Change My Pilates Classes. Not overhauling your class plans every time you teach not only promotes mastery with your clients, but it also helps you get better at teaching. You’re getting more reps of the same material, not fewer reps of more. Don’t conflate this with boringness, that’s not what I mean. Every time I teach the same class, I refine my cues, catch things I missed, and give my clients another chance to feel the work land. That’s not boring; that’s teaching better.

Tip: if you mess up or forget to teach something you had planned…skip it, move on and KEEP GOING. No one will notice. And if they do, it’s not the end of the world. Laugh it off, we all make mistakes and remember this isn’t brain surgery.

Tip: if you’re seriously still stressing and think you’re going to completely blank, put the main series on a post-it-note next to your water bottle as a safety blanket.

What do you do if someone isn’t paying attention in a group class? I let them be. But first I ask myself the following questions (in this order).

1. Are they going to get injured? If yes, hands on correction, immediately.

2. How many times have I repeated the cue? If it's 2-3 and they’re still not getting it, move to #3.

3. Have I tried to say a different cue for the same correction? Basic example, for pelvic stability lying supine “stay quiet in your pelvis.” If that’s not landing: “drop heavy through your tailbone” or “zip in and up through low abs.”

4. Have I gone over for hands-on correction and 1:1 cueing? Note: 3 and 4 can be interchangeable.

If I run through the above outline of questions and a client is still not listening…with love, you have to let them do what they’re doing. Otherwise, you’ll go insane.

To be clear, as a Pilates instructor you must have good intuition between someone who isn’t necessarily coordinated / needs a little extra support vs. someone who simply isn’t listening. This can sometimes be a fine line but remember you can’t correct and fix everyone all the time in a group setting.

Tip: I try to go around to give a personal correction to each client at least once during a full class.

Ok, let’s rap this up…

The good news (and maybe also the bad), all of these get better with time. Your classes get better with time. The flow of your plan gets better with time. And YOU get better with time. Confidence will come from repetition, teaching multiple different bodies and body types, showing up as your best self, and staying curious and open minded.

And lastly, as my friend joeypilates says: “enter your fitness class with the delusion of a Real Housewife on their 3rd season.”

When I first opened my private space there was so much from a "looks” standpoint that I was worried about (no natural light, the garage door, my green turf floors, etc). But then it dawned on me, people are paying for ME: my time/my expertise/my style of teaching. That’s not to say a clean, good-looking studio can’t help, but it shouldn’t be everything.

Sweats & The City said it best: the rinse & repeat look of the studios, the Pilates Princess branding, and all neutral/pastel everything is oversaturated. This recipe isn’t going to work anymore and we’re already seeing studios differentiate; expect more uniqueness in studio spaces: pops of color, texture, classic/vintage looks, with the equipment / the work / and instructors being the focal point.

Below are a few examples of people and studios who I feel did it different and did it well:

• Based on studio vibes (i.e. not your typical neutrals):

  • The Pilates Cave: they did orange when everyone did neutral tones

  • Homebody Studios: eclectic / vintage / “homey”

  • Nice Day Pilates (Canada): it’s giving 90s/2000s retro

  • New York Pilates: also retro style featuring the color purple, not new to the game, and a New York empire

• Based on knowledge and industry longevity factors (below are US-based but there are plenty of international people/studios I respect as well)

  • Fuerza Pilates: Nicky is extremely knowledgeable and privately trains many professional athletes…she knows her shit

  • Kenlie Reed is also really good at cross training with professional athletes

  • Nofar: one of the most unique formats/methods I’ve experienced. Classes include half Cadillac, half Reformer

  • Bodyline: stands the test of time based on her knowledge and expertise. One of my favorite things about following Maria is she stays unapologetically true to Pilates and what it is at its core; however, she accepts the inevitable evolution of this method and stays curious about where it’s going

  • Forma Pilates: high class / exclusivity / cool girl vibes. Say what you will, but Forma doesn't apologize for who they are or who they cater to. Whether the aesthetic is for you or not, the discipline and success is something to learn from

I’m sure I’m missing a few of my favorites…comment yours, I’d love to discover some new ones!

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Lastly, my favorite topic…let’s talk fashion. This industry shift is showing up in what we wear too: Rumor has it… Sporty Chic is the New Clean Girl. The matching, neutral pastel sets are no longer the vibe; we want color, 90s vibes, track pants, sweats with tanks, capris/cropped leggings, all of which YES, I think is appropriate to wear to Pilates (I know wearing sweats can be a debate).

Shop my Sporty Chic workout looks here

The Pilates industry is going through it right now; every angle is shape-shifting back to its roots (read my last post here about industry predictors). We overcorrected until it was a sea of sameness and now we are so back. Bye-bye, Pilates princess.

Pilates has become a household name, but it wasn’t too long ago when this movement practice was still viewed as “stretching” / “physical therapy based” / or “boring.” I first started Pilates over 10 years ago when I was rehabbing my knee from ACL surgery and was trying to get back to gymnastics and competing full-time. Pilates wasn’t really that trendy back then (plus I was practicing a more classical style), and I had a mentor who helped me truly understand the benefits, the principles, and the roots of this method. I’ll forever be grateful because THAT is what shaped my initial Pilates knowledge, not this confusing portrayal smeared all over social media.

I’m not here to highlight what type of Pilates is actual Pilates and what isn’t (who am I to say?!) but I do feel a shift coming. The industry has continuously seen growth over the last five years, so naturally, people are increasingly becoming more curious and asking questions. With so many boutique studios popping up left and right, the demand isn’t matching the quality of instructors available, and clients are starting to notice.

According to The Pilates Journal (full 2025 report here), the Pilates client is changing and in a really specific way: 64% see demand for injury prevention and rehab (my interpretation: sports/athlete cross training is becoming a real thing); 41% want high-intensity, fitness style (my interpretation: people like athletic-style Pilates and feeling challenged but within the bounds of the method).

MY PREDICTIONS:

1. We will continue to see clients become increasingly curious around form and the why behind movements (they’ll want some sort of educational baseline and will expect to get it from their instructors);

2. Along with that, there will be some sort of resurgence in classical Pilates and an interest in the original roots of the method.

3. I think there will be a rise of privates and smaller class sizes;

4. While group studios who create community and hold only the highest standards for their instructors will be the ones to win (weekend certifications will be out and influencers claiming to be fitness experts won’t be cute anymore).

5. You’ll also see studio owners start to get extremely picky on who they are hiring (we alllll saw that Hailey Bieber video, where she stated that it’s really hard to find good instructors).

The bar is rising, and instructors who stay committed will be glad they did.

Have any thoughts yourself on this topic? Drop them in the comments.